Anyone comparing crisps by kcal
You don’t want to cut crisps out completely, but you’re keeping an eye on the energy per 100 g and per measured portion. Compare the same amount using the information on the pack of the variety you’re buying.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Anyone looking to limit their portion
It’s easy to eat more than you planned when snacking from a large bag. Putting a portion in a bowl beforehand or choosing a small bag makes the amount clear; the Voedingscentrum suggests choosing a small bag instead of a large one as one possible step.
Anyone checking salt and ingredients too
As well as kcal, you’re comparing salt or need to consider specific ingredients. Check the information for the exact flavour and pack, as it can vary between products.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with kcal per 100 g, then decide how much you actually want to eat, and check the salt and ingredients on the pack.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Kcal per snack | Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate the amount you want to eat; the stated portion doesn’t have to be your portion. | When I choose crisps, I want to know how many kcal are in my measured amount, not just what’s on the front of the bag. For around 36% of consumers, fewer kcal per snack is the priority. |
| Portion control | Check the pack weight and stated portion size; put the amount you plan to eat in a bowl beforehand. | I’m more likely to keep eating from a large bag than from a portion I’ve measured out in advance. That’s why limiting the amount is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Read the salt content and the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour and pack. | As well as kcal, I want to be able to assess whether a flavour meets my requirements for salt or ingredients. This is the main purchasing concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Practical choice | Check which varieties are available to buy and compare their nutritional information before choosing a pack. | I’m looking for a variety that’s easy to take with me or buy, without skipping the comparison of kcal and portions. For around 14% of consumers, this practical choice matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Taking ‘less fat’ to mean ‘low in kcal’
Albert Heijn’s product information lists 461 kcal per 100 g for AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet and 428 kcal per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Naturel. So the fat claim alone doesn’t tell you which of these two contains fewer kcal.
Compare kcal, fat and salt per 100 g, then consider how much you plan to eat.
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Assuming the portion on the pack is right for you
The Voedingscentrum lists 214 kcal for a 40 g bowl of crisps in assorted flavours. If you eat more than the portion you’ve used for your calculation, the kcal in your snack will change too.
Measure out the amount beforehand or choose a smaller bag if that helps you stick to your planned portion.
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Overlooking salt and allergens
A claim about fat or oven-baking doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for specific dietary requirements. For example, Jumbo lists wheat in Pringles Original, and milk and sulphites in Smiths Sticks Paprika.
Check the current ingredients, allergens and salt content on the pack for each flavour.
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Using nutritional information from a different pack
Albert Heijn lists 428 kcal per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Naturel, while a Joybuy product page for Lay’s Oven Gebakken Natuurlijk lists 442 kcal per 100 g. Don’t assume these figures refer to exactly the same product.
When comparing products, use the nutritional information for the exact pack you’re buying.
Brands to compare
Lay’s
The Oven Baked range is worth considering if you want to compare oven-baked crisps with regular crisps.
- Albert Heijn lists 428 kcal and 13 g of fat per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Naturel, with a 30 g portion.
- According to Lay’s own product claim, this variety contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps. Still compare kcal and salt on the pack you buy.
Albert Heijn
AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet is an own-brand option to compare nutritional values.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety has 35% less fat than AH Ribbelchips naturel; the stated portion is 25 g.
- Albert Heijn lists 461 kcal per 100 g. ‘Less fat’ doesn’t automatically make this the lowest-kcal option.
Chio
Jumbo lists Chio Oven Chips as oven-baked varieties in its lower-fat crisps category.
- The flavours shown include paprika, sea salt and onion & sour cream.
- For the flavour you choose, compare the kcal, salt and allergens on the product pack.
Pringles
Pringles Original is a familiar stackable snack to compare with crisps for nutritional information.
- Jumbo lists 516 kcal and 1,0 g of salt per 100 g for Pringles Original.
- Jumbo lists wheat as an allergen and says milk and soya may be present. Check the exact pack if these ingredients are relevant to your choice.
Smiths
Smiths Sticks Paprika is a shaped potato and maize snack, not regular potato crisps.
- Jumbo lists 491 kcal per 100 g for this variety.
- Jumbo also lists 1,3 g of salt per 100 g, with milk and sulphites as allergens. Compare this product as a separate type of snack.
Lidl Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s snack range and can be a starting point for exploring different types of crisps.
- Lidl offers a range of crisps in different flavours, among other products in the range.
- Assess a Snack Day variety using the nutritional information on that specific pack, not the name of the range.
Crisps and a savoury alternative at Joybuy
This selection includes two oven-baked crisp varieties and a konjac snack for anyone considering a different kind of savoury snack too. Compare crisps and the alternative as different types of product; for all three, check your portion and the information on the pack.
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Lay’s Oven Baked Barbecue, 150 g
An oven-baked crisp variety for anyone looking for a barbecue flavour. Choose how much you eat, and check the current nutritional information and ingredients for that portion.
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Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt, 125 g
An oven-baked crisp variety with a sea salt flavour. When comparing, look beyond kcal and check the salt content and ingredients for this flavour too.
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Wei Long Konjac Crunchy Snack Vegetarian Tripes-Style Spicy, 360 g (20 × 18 g)
This is a spicy konjac snack, not crisps; the box contains individual 18 g bags. Compare the nutritional information and ingredients if you choose this different type of snack, especially if salt or allergens matter to you.
Frequently asked questions
Are lower-fat crisps automatically low in calories?
No: ‘less fat’ compares the fat content and doesn’t tell you on its own how many kcal crisps contain. Albert Heijn lists 461 kcal per 100 g for AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet and 428 kcal per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Naturel; also consider how much you want to eat.
What portion of crisps can I use as a guide?
Start with the amount you actually want to eat and measure it out beforehand. Albert Heijn lists a 30 g portion of Lay’s Oven Baked Naturel at 128 kcal, but that stated portion is only useful for comparison if you eat roughly that amount too. The Voedingscentrum suggests choosing a small bag instead of a large one as one possible way to limit the amount.